Earth Month brings diverse slate of events to campus

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In 1970, the first Earth Day events, focused on educating the public about environmental issues and inspiring advocacy, were held on April 22 across the nation. Today, Earth Day has grown into a global celebration to which Emory contributes with an entire month of fun and educational events.

Emory kicked off Earth Month early with the Earth Month Festival and Farmers Market on March 29. Earth Month events continue throughout April with numerous activities, lectures and community discussions.

Emory’s Office of Sustainability Initiatives' annual community Earth Month calendar compiles a broad range of events that celebrate people and diversity, and raise awareness of environmental and social issues. Departments, schools and groups can e-mail Melanie Aleman to add their activities to the calendar.

Upcoming events include the following:

Throughout April

Emory Recycles begins its annual Don’t Dump It – Donate It! Throughout April, collection trucks will collect unwanted clothing, household items and school supplies from students moving out of their residence halls. Drop off points will be at the Dobbs University Center Loading Dock, Alpha Phi Alpha/Sorority Village, Woodruff Residence Hall, Clairmont Tower and Harris/Complex. Proceeds from donations sold will be given to local charities.

April 5

On Tuesday, April 5, students from Turmilton and Raoul Halls will hold a Sustainability Pitch Competition. Students will pitch ideas on how to make Emory residence halls more sustainable and win cash prizes to bring their ideas to life. This event will take place at the Raoul Hall Lobby at 7 p.m.

April 6

On Wednesday, April 6, Healthy Emory will celebrate National Walking Day with its annual call-to-action to walk for 30 minutes during the workday to promote physical activity and well-being. Various group walks are available across Emory University and Healthcare campuses. See specific times and locations.

At 7:30 p.m. Climate@Emory will host an “Ice and Sky” film screening in White Hall 208. This documentary explores Claude Lorius’ lifelong investigation of Antarctic ice and his scientific adventure which has brought climate change to light.

April 8-9

Emory University will host the Critical Juncture Conference on Friday, April 8, through Saturday, April 9, at the Rollins School of Public Health. This year’s conference theme is “Representations of the Body,” which will center on work that interrogates the complex intersections of multiple identities: race, class, gender, sexuality, ability, nationality and beyond. This event is open to the public. Registration is required.

April 12

On Tuesday, April 12, at 5 p.m. at the Harland Cinema, Climate@Emory and the anthropology department will screen the documentary “This Changes Everything.” A panel discussion will follow the film. This event is free and open to the public.

April 13

Emory Dining and the Office of Sustainability Initiatives will host a screening “In Defense of Food,” in which best-selling author Michael Pollan explores the question: What should I eat to be healthy? This event will start at 4 p.m. at the Harland Cinema.

April 18-19

The Break the Cycle 11 Conference is an annual multidisciplinary, research and training program which invites students and faculty from a variety of colleges and universities to develop projects that will break the cycle of disadvantage and disability, and raise awareness of children's environmental health disparities. This event will start at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, April 18, and Saturday, April 19, at the Health Sciences Research Building, and is sponsored by the Southeast Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit, Innovative Solutions for Disadvantage and Disability, the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities, and the Office of Sustainability Initiatives. Free and open to the public with registration.

April 19-20

The Center for Ethics and the Emory CREATE program will host “Planet, People, Profits: A Conference on Business and the Environment,” which will bring together business leaders and Emory scholars to discuss the connections between businesses, the environment and sustainability. Erika James, dean of the Goizueta Business School, is the keynote speaker on Thursday, April 19, at 4 p.m., while sustainability experts from a diverse group of businesses including Georgia Power, InterContinental Hotel, Interface, Home Depot, Coca-Cola, Novelis and Southface will present on Wednesday, April 20, at 9 a.m. RSVP is required.